Detachable heel lift



Jan. 18, 1966 J. LAUFBAHN 3,229,390

DETACHABLE HEEL LIFT Filed June 11, 1964 Fi .2 /4 g Jenn/e L aufbahn l N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,229,390 DETACHABLE HEEL LIFT Jennie Laut'ba'nn, 2260 Bronx Park 13., New York, N.Y. Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,504 4 Claims. (Cl. 36-42) The present invention generally relates to shoe heel construction and more particularly to a detachable heel lift construction which enables the heel lift to be readily detached and replaced when it has become worn but yet will retain the heel lift securely and immovably in position on the heel.

Replacement of heel lifts, especially on ladies shoe heels, is a quite frequent occurrence and is a rather costly and time-consuming job and, in some instances, efforts to replace the heel lift results in damage to the heel. Some efforts have been made to provide arrangements in which the heel lift may be replaced by means other than using nail type fasteners. However, such devices have been rather unsuccessful.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a detachable heel lift which is simple in construction, easy to manipulate but yet quite secure and positive in its action and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel lift in which the lift is provided with a reinforcing plate on its inner surface which will serve to not only reinforce the heel lift but form a Wear surface in the event that the lift is worn off on one edge which is the usual situation thereby prolonging the useful life of the heel lift.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable heel lift in which a lateral sliding movement of the heel lift is necessary to effect mounting and removal of the heel lift on the heel.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a detachable heel lift having a fastener in the form of a nail having one or a multiple of prongs thereon for attaching the fastener to the heel after which the heel lift is detachably and slidably interlocked therewith with the heel lift having a metallic plate with a particular slot-like opening therein for receiving the prongs and also snappingly engaging the prongs for securely retaining the heel lift in place.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of a heel with the detachable heel lift of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner of association of the heel lift with the fastener or nail;

FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of the heel lift illustrating the metal plate and the slot-like structure incorporated therein;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the components of the present invention in their relative position for assembly; and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but with the heel lift only partially assembled with the heel.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the detachable heel lift of the present invention that is associated with a conven tional heel 12 and is illustrated in use in combination with a ladys wood heel. It is pointed out that the heel 12 may be of any suitable construction and of any suitable shape, size, and material that will hold a nail such as wood, leather, plastic or the like. The heel lift 10 of the present invention may be combined with ladies heels of various shapes, sizes, configurations and lengths and also men's heels and childrens heels. For the purposes of description, the heel 12 includes a wood member 14 having a planar lower end surface 16 for receiving the detachable heel lift 10 of the present invention.

The detachable heel lift 10 includes a pad or body of resilient material such as rubber, plastic or the like designated by numeral 18 and this pad may be constructed of material which is normally employed for forming ladies heel lifts, mens heel lifts or the like and the shape and configuration thereof will conform to the shape and configuration of the heel in the manner of a heel lift. The upper surface 20 of the pad 18 is provided with a transversely extending groove or channel 22 which terminates beyond the center point therein in an inner edge 24. The side walls of the channel or groove 22 are inwardly feathered and inclined as at 26 for a purpose described hereinafter.

Mounted on the upper surface 20 of the pad 18 is a flat plate 28 of metallic or plastic construction having a shape and size equivalent to the shape and size of the pad 18 and the surface 16 of the heel 14. The plate 28 has a keyhole slot 30 extending inwardly from one side edge thereof with the side edges of the slot 30 converging into a narrow portion which then communicates with a circular aperture 32. The circular aperture 32 is in turn communicated with another keyhole slot structure 34 having at its inner end a circular aperture 36 communicated therewith. Thus, the slot structure is laterally opened to one side of the plate 28 but closed insofar as the other side edge thereof and the slot structure in the plate 28 overlies the groove or channel 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 with the feathered edge 26 lying against the undersurface of the plate 28 in outwardly spaced relationship to the slot structures 32 and 34.

For securing the heel lift 10 to the heel 14, there is provided a nail-type fastener generally designated by numeral 38 and including a head 40 that is illustrated as generally rectangular in configuration with parallel side edges and end edges perpendicular thereto but parallel to each other. Disposed on the head 40 is a pair of tapered prongs 42 which serve as nails for extending into the heel 14 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 thus mounting the head 40 in place thereon with the head 40 being spaced slightly from the planar lower surface 16 of the heel 14 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The prongs 42 are orientated as close as possible to the ends of the head 40 for stability and firmly gripping as much of the lift as possible. The head 40 is wide and holds about three-fourths of the lift. The head 40 has a thickness which will enable .it to be received within the slot or groove 42 with the ends of the prongs 42 adjacent the head 40 being received in the slots 30 and 34 and snapping into the circular apertures 32 and 36 thus forming a secure attachment for the heel lift in relation to the heel. The feathered edge 26 lying against the plate 28 will effectively prevent the edges of the head 40 from being disposed between the plate 28 and the surface 20 of the pad 18 and will rather tend to fric tionally and securely lock the heel lift to the heel by frictionally engaging the tapered edges where they engage the undersurface of the plate 28.

The snapping engagement between the prongs 42 and the circular openings 32 and 36 will effectively secure the detachable heel lift in place and will prevent it from shifting in relation to the heel thus making the heel lift quite secure and also it will enable the heel lift to be readily detached if desired.

The number of prongs on the nail may vary depending upon the size of the heel and depending upon the size of the nail head employed. Also, the nail head shape may vary and, of course, the size may vary depending upon the type of heel and heel lift it is associated therewith. The nail may be constructed of materials normally employed for shoe nails and the plate 28 may be constructed of any suitable thin metallic or plastic plate having resilient characteristics and wear characteristics sufficient to hold the heel lift in place. Further, the plate 28 may be secured to the pad 18 by any suitable means such as by adhesive bonding or the like or it may be secured thereto by clinch-type fasteners or any other suitable fastening means. The prongs are straight shanked and relatively thin to prevent splitting of the heel. Several indented lines are disposed around each prong adja cent the head for firmer grip on the heel. The lift slides in from the outside toward the inside of the heel so that it does not move in case of a stumble or fall. Additionally, it is pointed out that large heels, such as used in childrens shoes, mens shoes or flat heeled shoes, will employ two or more rail assemblies and a corresponding number of grooves.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A detachable shoe heel lift assembly comprising a fastener element in the form of a nail adapted to be mounted on the shoe heel and including a head disposed in spaced relation to the bottom surface of the shoe heel and at least a pair of parallel pointed prongs extending perpendicular to the head in spaced relation and adapted to be inserted into the heel, a pad of resilient material forming a heel lift, a plate fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the pad, said pad having a recess in the form of a groove underlying a portion of the plate and communicating with the inner side edge of the pad and plate, said plate including slot means formed therein communieating with the inner side edge thereof and in overlying relation to the groove thereby enabling sliding interconnection between the pad and plate and the head, said slot means in the plate including means for grippingly engaging the spaced prongs when assembled with the fastener element thereby securing the pad and plate in position in relation to a heel.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said head is in the form of a generally rectangular plate having parallel side edges and parallel end edges perpendicular to the side edges, said prongs having straight shanks and disposed adjacent the ends edges of said rectangular plate for providing the greatest degree of stability therefor.

3. A detachable shoe heel lift assembly comprising a fastener element in the form of a nail adapted to be mounted on the shoe heel and including a head disposed in spaced relation to the bottom surface of the shoe heel and at least a pair of parallel pointed prongs extending perpendiiular to the head and in spaced relation and adapted to be inserted into the heel, a pad forming a heel lift, a plate fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the pad, said pad having a recess underlying a portion of the plate and communicating with the inner side edge of the pad and plate, said plate including slot means formed therein communicating with the inner side edge thereof and in overlying relation to the recess thereby enabling sliding interconnection between the pad and plate and the head, said slot means in the plate including means for grippingly engaging the fastener element when assembled therewith thereby securing the pad and plate in position in relation to a heel, said pad including a resilient member, said recess including a groove extending transversely of the top surface of the pad, said plate overlying the groove and forming a closure therefor, said plate being substantially the same size and configuration as the pad, said slot means including a slot having converging side edges and communicating with the inner side edge of the plate, the inner ends of the converging side edges defining a circular opening for snapping engagement with a prong carried by the fastener element thereby detachably securing the heel lift in place.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the side edges of said groove are upwardly and inwardly flared to form a feathered edge engaging the undersurface of the plate thereby preventing entry of the head of the fastener element between the plate and the pad and serving to securely anchor the pad to the head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,516 8/1925 Moineaux a- 3642 X 2,009,506 7/ 1935 Loosemore et al 3642 2,137,816 11/1938 Sullivan 3642 2,840,928 7/1958 Bastable 3642 X JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK .T. COHEN, Examiner. 

1. A DETACHABLE SOLE HEEL LIFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FASTENER ELEMENT IN THE FORM OF A NAIL ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE SHOE HEEL AND INCLUDING A HEAD DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE SHOE HEEL AND AT LEAST A PAIR OF PARALLEL POINTED PRONGS EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE HEAD IN SPACED RELATION AND ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE HEEL, A PAD OF RESILIENT MATERIAL FORMING A HEEL LIFT, A PLATE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE PAD, SAID PAD HAVING A RECESS IN THE FORM OF A GROOVE UNDERLYING A PORTION OF THE PLATE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INNER SIDE EDGE OF THE PAD AND PLATE, SAID PLATE INCLUDING SLOT MEANS FORMED THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INNER SIDE EDGE THEREOF AND IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE GROOVE THEREBY ENABLING SLIDING INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN THE PAD AND PLATE AND THE HEAD, SAID SLOT MEANS IN THE PLATE INCLUDING MEANS FOR GRIPPINGLY ENGAGING THE SPACED PRONGS WHEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE FASTENER ELEMENT THEREBY SECURING THE PAD AND PLATE IN POSITION IN RELATION TO A HEEL. 